Topic awaiting preservation: Where should I begin? (Page 1 of 1)

Hi

I've been thinking about learning programming, especially some server side kind of programming, but I do not know where to start. Last week I started to browse the web for some "possibilities" but all I got was confusion. I'm totally a new beginner here. I've been doing some graphics things but I was thinking that it'll be fun to learn something new. I saw a friend of mine developing his site using PHP, and it makes me kindda jealous, so I want to learn.

So, where should I begin? OR, maybe I'm asking the wrong question? C++ , C , CGI , Java ?

cell 799

Well really it all depends on what you want to do with it. If you want simple, easy to use server side code, use PHP, CGI is harder to learn. C and C++ and not web languages, so if you want to do server side work, I wouldn't even bother. They're Object Orientated Application languages. If you want ot program 3D stuff or complicated web applications, then Java is the way to go. I'd talk to InI more about that though...he's the man for that (as far as I know).

Hi there Rick!

If you are keen on starting programming I've got some minor questions for you...

1. Have you programmed anything before? Like javascript or similar things.
If no, what you need is some very basic introductions so you can get the hang of how to think.

2. Do you know what you would like to do with the programming?
Create cool effects on a webpage? Administrate webpages without FTP? Create applications?

All of these basic questions will help steer you into what language you should start with.
Personally I would recommend you a language that's based more or less on the C-syntax (syntax is the structure you use to write the code) since that will help you recognise several different languages over time.

Example, JavaScript is a client-side scripting language that allows you to manipulate a webpage in the browser, without reloading the page. You can for example validate forms and stuff like that. The syntax of javascript comes from the C-family.
PHP is a serverside scripting language that allows you to control how a webpage is constructed on the server before the user sees it. The syntax is also based on C.
C and C++ are languages normally used to create applications of different types.

What I'm after here is the fact that if you choose a language based on 1-what you want/need to do, 2-From a large "family", you will have a much easier time to adapt to another language of the same family as you need it.

One tip for tutorials is here http://www.gurusnetwork.com/tutorials/coding.html where you can find JavaScript, PHP, CSS and more. Read through a couple and try to get a grasp of your own level, meaning "How much do I understand of this?"

The thing with tutorials like these is that you need to understand and learn enough from them to be able to try to apply the concept of the tutorial in your situation.
Otherwise you will end up doing copy/paste w/o really knowing why it works.

Try to find out more about the level of understaning that you are at now, and we'll try to help you get started at that level.
Cheers/Dan

{cell 260}
-{ a vibration is a movement that doesn't know which way to go }-

Thanx Skaarjj, DmS..

I never really consider myself to have programmed anything before, I only copy some Javacsript, altered them and make them work for me. In fact, the only script that I have my hands on is (Doc's) Javascript, so I was not a programming (or scripting), I think..

Actually, I was thinking about learning a programming language which is the basis of some server side scripting. I wanted to be able to master several server side script such as Perl, PHP, ASP, etc. I've read somewhere before that some of these scripts can be gathered into one family except for few differences (correct me if I'm wrong). I'm only interested in web scripting, but is it OK if I get my hands on Java and C to get started?

Anyway, I'll try out your suggestion DmS. Thanx again



cell 799